Bottle-filling machine



Sept. 6 1.927.

H. M. ROSSv BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE :Filed Sept. 28, 1923 gvwawtoz W Mam y @A FW Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

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YHTJ'G'I-I ROSS, OF WOO-DHiAVIEN, lNEW' YORK, IASS(`zrl\l'0R TO"l ADRIANTCE MACHINE WORKS, INC., OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,AICORPORATIO1\TOF NEW YORK.

BOTTLE-FILLING MACHINE.

Application filed September 28, 1923. Serial No. 665,259.

invention relates to bottle filling' and capping machines. The principal ob]ect of the invention is to provide in such machines improved means 'for controlling lthe escape of the gas evicted from 'the bottle or c-ontrainer during the filling thereof; so that when the bottle or container is illed under pressure, as with lcarbonated liquid, loss of pressure under which the liquid .1s to be stored 'in the bottle is' avoided.

Other objects, features and I advantages will vappear more fuly in the following vdetailed description and appended claims.

.The accompanying drawings forming part of this specification illustrate one embodiment of 5the invention.

1n the drawings,

line 1-1 of Fig. 2 of the filling and capping head of a'bottle filling'machine; and Fig. -2 .is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

1n the type ofmachine shown the bottle 1s mounted on a suitable tableorsup-port (not shown) and the filling head 1 is movable `downwardly into operative relation to the bottle 2. Suitable mechanism "for'supporting lthe bottle and producing thenecessary movement of the head is shown in United States Letters `Patent to Calleson Reissue No. 14,657, dated June 10, 1919.

Mounted in extension -3 of the body of the head is a hollow or tubular liquid sup-v plyingfp'lunger comprising a main or upper portion 4 and an extension '5 secured to the lower end of the portion 4.' The extension 5 has secured therein a screw ltrhaving a central corel' so as to provide an annular! spiral li uid passage within the extension 5. A va ve 8 within the plunger body'4 coacts with the valve seat 9 secured within the plunger. The valve 8 is movable axially within the plunger into or out ofv engagement with the seat 9 so as yto be able to vcut 'off or permit the rflow of liquid through the The head 1 also has secured thereplunger. in an elastic gasket 10 of rubber or. other suitable material which is adapted to form al seal about Vthe mouth of the bottle or `other container. When the bottle is in filling re'V lation with respect to the head, `the plunger extension 5 rests upon the ytop of the bottle neck as shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of the plunger extension is, as showmcprovided Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken on with an elastic insert 11 adapted to'engagethe bottleand insure aseal between the mouth o'f the bottle and the fluid plunger. The head, as shown, also contains a suitable sealing'throat 12 by'which the skirts of a suitable cap may be forced around the rim on the mouth of a bottle to rseal the cap in place.A This sealing throat may beof anysuitable construction, for example, as shown .in my United yStates Letters Patent No. 1,445,717, y

dated fFeb. 20, 1923. Suitable mechanism for moving 'the parts of the head such as theliquid plunger, the yvalve 8 and also the head itself are shown yin reissue patent to Calleson No. 14,657 hereinbefore referred to.

- The mechanism described -in the foregoing detailed descriptionv is notfper se new in my present invention, being disclosed in the patents herenbefore referred to.

Referring now tothe means for permitting and `controlling the escape ofv gas from the bottle or other container during the filling f thereof, the screw 6I has'secured axially thereto in the lower end thereof a cup 144 which has a flared open lower end. .The upper end of -the cup has a centralperforation V15 leading'tol a passage 16 extending .axially of the screw end 'of the water plunger, the passage 16 communicating with a transverse passage 17 extending through the screw 6 and the extensio'n'5 yto a circumferential groove 18-extending around the extension 5. The groove .'18 communicates through the s pacebetween extension 5'and the throat 12 and through the cap `0r closure chamber 19 and'pas'sage "19v with a chamber in which thereis mounted a vertical foraminous foam retarding member 20 the interior of which communicates through a passage 21 `with aL horizontal passage 22 leading to the passage 2 3 in which valve 24 is movable. The ,passage 23l comprises inner and outer portions,

the -outer portion vbeing of larger' diameter.

than the 4inner portion.y The valvey 24 has an outer end portion 25 fitting slidably in the larger portion -o'f the Vpassage'Y 23 and also an inner end portion 26 :fitting slidably in the inner end of the passage23 and norlmally pressed against the plunger extension- CTI from the passage 22 through the passage 23 to a passage 28 leading to needle valve 29 which is adjusted to allow a-fine opening to the atmosphere. are located on opposite sides of the shoulder 30 formed between the portions of the passage 23 of different diameter; so that, when the shoulder on the adjacent portion Vof the valve bears aga-inst this shoulder 30 in the passage 23, the valve will be closed and the escape of gas through the passage 28 and the port controlled by the valve 29 will be prevented. The groove 18 in the extension 5 of the liquid supply plungeris so arranged 1' that when the plunger is in operative krelation to the bottle the said valve stem, as shown, bears against the plunger above the groove and very close to it. lVhen, however, the plunger is elevated with respect to the head from this position, the groove is so positioned as to-receive theV end of the valve stem and thereby permit closing of the valve 24. v

In operation, the filling head having been brought vinto operative relation to the bottle,

Vas shown in Fig. 1, and the liquid valve 8 having been opened, the liquid, such as carbonated water, is fed in an annular vortex into the bottle. The only escape for the gas (which is mainly air but may include some gas given off by the entering liquid) is the ventingmeans including the cup 14, perforation 15, passages 16 and 17, groove 18, chamber 19, passage 19', capsule 20, passage 21, passage 23, passage 28 and the port controlled b the needle valve 29. As the plunger 4, uring the filling operation, is in lowered position with respect to the head, the valve 24 will be held baclr into open position against the action of the spring 27; and the necessary venting of the gas will take place.

After the bottle has been filled, the plunger 4, 5 is elevated from the bottle (by means such as shown in Reissue Patent No. 14,657 mentioned above). This permits the valve stem 2G to enter the groove 18, allowing the spring 27 to automatically effect 'the closing of the valve 24. The head is now completely sealed and escape of gas from the bottle or from the interior of the head is effectively prevented and the desired pressure maintained in the head and container. Liquid valve 8 closes a short interval after the closing of the vent valve, shutting off the supply of liquid through the plunger, thus complet-ing the filling operation and permitting the sealing of the bottle as described, for eX- ample, in the above-named reissue patent. When the liquid supply plunger is again lowered with respect to the head the groove 18 moves down below the valve stem 26 and the latter is automatically forced by the plunger back into open position as the inclined lor cam-like upper wall of the groove The passages 22 and 28- 18 moves downwardly with respect thereto. The .valve is thereupon held'open by the plunger against the action of the spring 27.

It is to be understood that many modifications and .changes may be made in the construction shown without departing from the spirit of my invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what. I claim as new and desire to secure 75. by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination of a vertically movable filling and capping head, a liquid supplying member mounted in said head and movable relative thereto, said head being provided with venting means permitting the escape of gas therefrom, and a valve coacting with said liquid supplying member and automatically operable upon the movement thereof for closing said venting means.

2. The combination of a filling and capping head adapted to coact with the mouth of a container to be filled and provided with adjustable venting means having an outlet directlyand permanently open to the atmosphere and permitting the escape'of gas from the head, a valve for closing'said ventvmg means, means tending to close said valve, and means including a plunger having a cam portion for opening saidvalve.

3. The combination of a filling and capping head adapted to coact with the mouth of a container to be filled and provided with venting means permitting the escape of gas from the head, a valve for closing said venting means, means tendingY to close said valve and means including a plunger movable into and out of sealing engagement with the container for opening said valve upon movement thereof into engagement with the container.

4. The combination of a head adapted to be moved vertically with respect to the mouth of a container to be filled and provided with venting means permitting the escape of gas from the head, a liquid supplying plunger mounted within said head and movable into and out of operative relation to the container, and a valve carried by said movable head for closing said venting U5 means, said valve being operable by said plunger in its movements relatively to the head.

5. The combination of a vertically movable head adapted to coact with the mouth 12" of a container to be filled and provided with venting means permitting the escape of gas from the head, a liquid supplying plunger movable vertically relatively to saidhead and havingan axial gas passage forming part of said venting means and an annular liquid supplying passage surrounding said axial gas passage, and a valve for closing said rventing means, said valve being operable by said plunger.

6. The combination of a filling and Capping head adapted to coact With the mouth of a container to be filled, a liquid supplying plunger movable relatively to said head, a chamber Within said head communicating with the said plunger and the outside atmosphere and provided with a foraminous foam retarder, and a valve operable to close communication between said Chambery and the v atmosphere, said valve being lcontrolled by 10 the said plunger.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my Y name to this specification.

HUGH `M. ROSS. 

